by MarianBeaman | Nov 18, 2020 | blog, Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Quotations
“Where have you been hiding?” I asked myself as I discovered a tiny, green volume under three other, larger diaries. Over three years ago, my sisters and I cleared out our Aunt Ruthie’s house. They agreed to my placing her diaries and journals in my suitcase, flying...
by MarianBeaman | Nov 11, 2020 | blog, book review, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Quotations, Uncategorized
Sarah Klassen is a Canadian poet novelist storyteller with Mennonite roots Sarah is 88 years old. Recently Sarah has published her second poetry collection, The Tree of Life, a gem of a book, glowing with color like sunlight filtered through stained glass. ...
by MarianBeaman | Oct 8, 2020 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Uncategorized
Welcome to the #RRBC “ROCKIN’ 2020 AWAY” BOOK, BLOG & TRAILER Block Party! @martabeaman #Giveaways * * * Here’s What I’m Giving Away Today: $ 10.00 Target Gift Card Post a comment to go into the draw – Good Luck! (One winner...
by MarianBeaman | Sep 23, 2020 | blog, Memory, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Recipes, Uncategorized
The tradition of Sunday dinner with guests, thriving in our Mennonite (and larger) community as late as the early 1970s, was an expression of a communal spirit. It was an equally culinary and sacramental Sabbath experience. Now, except among the Plain...
by MarianBeaman | Sep 16, 2020 | blog, Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia
Great Grandpa Sam, born in 1863, was honored with a party for his 80th birthday. My great grandfather Samuel Brinser Martin’s birthday party was even written up in the Middleton (Pennsylvania) newspaper. I don’t know whether my family was invited to the...
by MarianBeaman | Sep 2, 2020 | blog, Education, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia
At Rheems Elementary School in Pennsylvania, classes began right after Labor Day, just like clockwork. My aunt was my teacher in the first four grades, the charms and challenges of which I describe in my memoir. Miss Longenecker, aka my Aunt Ruthie, taught...
